Asphalt tile heater



Aug. 21, 1956 w. a BLUE ASPHALT TILE HEATER Filgd Sept. 29, 1955 Y M/i/Wa M404 .5 54%;,

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United States Patent ASPHALT TILE HEATER William E. Blue, Long Beach, Qalif.

Application September 29, 1955, Serial No. 537,477

3 Claims. (Cl. 219-49) This invention relates to an asphalt tile heater whereby a single tile may be removed or replaced from a floor, or the .like, without injuring :or interfering with the adjacent tile in any way.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel asphalt tile heater which is electrically heated, the elements being so positioned in the device that the entire heating surface is uniformly heated to the outer edges thereof, so that the entire asphalt tile is uniformly heated for the purpose of removing or replacing the same.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel asphalt tile heater in which the heat is confined to the particular tile which is being removed or replaced; the adjacent tile being undisturbed, and are not heated to an extent that might cause the edges of the adjacent tile to curl or pull away from the floor or other surfaces.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel asphalt tile heater which can be readily transported and which can be easily lifted and moved from place to place and, further, which can be used for a considerable period of time without discomfort to the user as a result of the electrical heating surfaces, the device being so constructed that air circulation above the heating surfaces will prevent excessive transmission of heat to the top or lifting surface of the device.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a top plan view of my asphalt tile heater.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a plan View of the electrical heating elements.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, my asphalt tile heater 1 includes a heating plate 2 consisting of a pair of superimposed aluminum plates 3 and 4. The plates 3 and 4 are rectangular in shape and are the same dimensions as the usual asphalt floor tile. A third plate 5, formed of transite, is fixedly attached to the bottommost aluminum plate 4 and is also the same dimensions as that plate. The plate 5 is formed of transite or some other suitable nonmetallic substance which is highly heat resistant and has a smooth and polished surface, so that the title which is being worked upon will not stick to it. Heated asphalt tile tends to stick to a metal surface and, consequently, the nonmetallic plate 5 covers the metallic plate to prevent sticking. The plate 5 is attached to the metal plate 4 by means of screws, rivets or other suitable attaching means. A plurality of heating elements 6 are positioned between the metal plates 34 and these heating elements consist of rectangular sheets of insulating material '7 and which are relatively thin. The heating wires 8 are Wound on the sheets 7 in a spiral manner from end to end, these wires in turn heating the metal plates 3 and 2, and particularly the plate 4, to the desired temperature to melt the adhesive which secures the asphalt tile to the floor. The heating wires 8 are all electrically connected to a switch and thermostat 9 whereby the v 'ice proper temperature of the plates 3, 4 and 5 can be maintained. The switch thermostat 9 is of usual construction and the details of this switch form no part of this invention. An electrical inlet cord 10 extends to the switch and thermostat 9 and this cord conducts the usual house current to the switch. A cover or lifting plate 11 is positioned above and in spaced relation to the heating plates 3- l. The cover plate ll is preferably for-med of a nonmetallic substance, such as transite or a similar material, which is a relatively poor heat conductor. A handle 12 is attached to the cover plate 11 so that the device may be lifted from place to place as required.

The lifting plate 11 is secured to and spaced from the heating element 2 by means of the four bolts 13 which extend through the plates 3-4 and cover plate 11. A wire screen 14 extends around the four sides of the heater between the plates 3 and 11, thus enabling the heat of the top metal plate 3 to be dissipated and thus prevent excessive heating of the lifting plate 11. A pair of rests or feet 15-16 are fixedly mounted on one side of the top plate ll and these feet serve to support the heater in its raised position so that the heating surface of the tile heater will not necessarily rest on the floor except when the heater is in actual use.

In operation the thermostat and switch 9 is adjusted so that the nonmetallic surface 5 will be heated to the proper temperature to melt the adhesive which holds the asphalt tile to the fioor. The heater is then placed upon the tile which is to be removed and after remaining on the tile for a short period of time the entire tile will be heated and can be easily removed and a new tile reinserted. Since the tile heater is exactly the size of the usual asphalt floor tile it will only heat that tile and not the adjacent tile. Furthermore, the entire heating surfaces 3, 4 and 5 are uniformly heated so that the tile which is being removed is not excessively heated, nor are the adjacent tile injured or heated in any way and the edges of the adjacent tile will not curl or bend.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An asphalt tile heater comprising a heating surface, said heating surface including a pair of metallic superimposed plates, a nonmeta'llic plate fixedly attached to the bottom of one of said first named plates, said last named plate forming a tile engaging surface, electrical heating elements positioned between the first named pair of plates, a lifting plate mounted above the first named plates, means fixedly attaching the lifting plate to the first named plates, and a handle on the last named plate, and a wire screen arranged between the lifting plate and the first named plates, said wire screen defining an inclosure between. the lifting plate and the first named plates.

2. An asphalt tile heater comprising a heating surface, said heating surface including a pair of metallic superimposed plates, a nonmetallic plate fixedly attached to the bottom of one of said first named plates, said last named plate forming a tile engaging surface, electrical heating elements positioned between the first named pair of plates, a lifting plate mounted above the first named plates, means fixedly attaching the lifting plate to the first named plates, a handle on the last named plate, and a wire screen arranged between the lifting plate and the first named plates, said wire screen defining an inclosure between the lifting plate and the first named plates, and a pair of rests projecting from one edge of said lifting plate to support the tile heater in a vertical position.

3. An asphalt tile heater, including a heating element, said heating element consisting of a pair of superimposed metallic plates, electrical heating elements positioned between said superimposed plates, a nonmetallic plate fixedly attached to the lower surface of one of the first named plates, said nonmetallic plate forming a work engaging surface, a lifting plate spaced from the first named plates,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Knight Jan. 28, 1936 Crooks et al. Sept. 19, 1939 Fichtner Sept. 2, 1952 Berarducci et al Sept. 30, 1952 Brockrnole Nov. 9, 1954 Hearn July 12, 1955 

